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Gray went on to encourage people to prepare by stocking up on food and water.

He added: “This is just a possibility but be alert, that is all I am saying.”

The post went viral soon after the quake hit, and Gray’s name has been discussed more than 38,000 times on Facebook.

Terrified residents reported seeing bright flashing blue lights in the sky during the earthquake, with several videos of the mysterious lights appearing online.

The 'earthquake light' phenomenon is caused by rocks rubbing together as the Earth's crust shakes, creating an electric charge.

The charge travels through cracks in rocks caused by the quake, ionising pockets of air in the atmosphere, and creating plasma that emits light.

The phenomenon has only been reported in 0.5 per cent of earthquakes, and is only seen in quakes with a magnitude of five or higher.

US experts said the disaster yesterday hit the city of Christchurch in the New Zealand's South Island, which is still recovering from a deadly 6.3 magnitude quake five years ago that killed 185 people.

AP:Associated Press

The walls of a historic church are damaged after the quake in Waiau

Reuters

Local residents Chris and Viv Young look at damage caused by an earthquake, along State Highway One near the town of Ward

AP:Associated Press

A group of cows left stranded on a patch of elevated grass near Kaikoura, New Zealand

AP:Associated Press

Earthquake damage on State Highway One and the main railway line north of Kaikoura

Getty Images

Earthquake damage to the Waiau Lodge Hotel, in Waiau, near Christchurch

The US Geological Survey said the epicentre was some 60 miles (100km) from the city and posted maps showing the areas affected by the shock.

The epicentre was located around 10 miles north-east (15km) of Culverden in South Island and some 10 miles below the Earth's surface.

It is understood to have struck just after midnight local time – 11.02 GMT on Sunday – with the first tsunami wave hitting the coast some two hours later.

Prime Minister John Key confirmed on Sunday evening (GMT) that two people had lost their lives and several more had been badly injured.

Speaking nearly seven hours after the earthquake first hit, the PM said "we cannot rule out" that the number of fatalities may continue to rise.

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